Nārada Mahā Purana
107 - The Matsya Purana: Contents
Lord Brahmä said:
1. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, I shall, henceforth, recount the Matsya Puråņa to you. In it, all the events of the seven Kalpas in the world, have been condensed.
2. It has been composed by Vyāsa, a scholar in the Vedas, in about fourteen thousand verses.* He has begun by describing Narasimha.
*The Vayu, the Matsya and the Bh. P. state this figure, but AP. gives 13000 and the Br. V. 18000 verses as the figure. Actually the Anandaśhrama edition contains 14,062 verses. The contents of that edition lally with those given by the NP. here.
3. The discussion between Manu and Matsya, then the narration (description) of the Cosmic Egg; the creation of the Devas, Asuras and the Marut (wind) from the Brahman.
4. Madana-Dvadashi (the twelfth lunar day in honour of Madana) and the worship of the guardians of the worlds; the survey of the Manvantaras, the description of the government of the kingdom by the Vaishyas.
5. The birth of Vaivasvata (Manu) from the sun, the contact with Budha (Mercury), the narration of the lineage of the Pitris; the opportune time for (performance of) Śhråddha).
6. The peregrination among the Pitri-Tirthas, the origin of Soma (the moon), the glorification of the lunar race and the story of Yayāti.
7. The story of Kårttavirya, the narration of the created race, Bhřugu’s curse to Vişhņu to take ten births on the Earth.
8. Then the glorification of Puru’s race, the race of Hutaśhana (the fire), the path of activity. Thereafter, the narration of the Purāņa.
9. The Vrata (holy rite) called Nakşhatra Purusha, Mårtanpa-shayana, the Vrata of Krişhņāşhtami (the eighth day of the dark half of Śhråvaņa observance in honour of Krişhņa’s birth) and that of Rohiņichandra.
10. The greatness of constructing tanks; the gift of the trees, the Vrata called Saubhāgya and Shayana Agastya Vrata.
11. The Vrata of Anantatrustiya, that of Rasakalyāṇinī, that of Anandakari and then the Sārasvata (belonging to Sarasvati) Vrata.
12. Uparågåbhişheka (Ablution at the time of eclipse Saptami śhayana, Bhima Dvadashī, Anangaśhayana rite.
13. Ashūnyaśhayanavrata, Angārakavrata (holy rite of Mars) Saptami saptaka (seven Saptamis i.e. seventh lunar day) Vishokadvadashivrata (holy rite on the twelfth lunar day for wiping off grieg).
14. The gift of Meru, ten-fold specification of evil planets; the narration of the forms of planets, Shivachaturdaśhí (the fourteenth day of Śhiva).
15. The abandonment of all fruits, the holy observance of Suryavára (Sunday), the taking of bath at the time of Sankranti (Solar Transit from one sign of Zodiac to another), the holy rite of Vibhūti Dvādaśhī.
16. The greatness of Şhasthivratas (holy rites on the sixth Lunar day) (leading Şhaşhțivratas-sixty holy rites), then the rules of procedure regarding holy baths, the greatness of Prayaga, the description of continents and the worlds.
17. The movement in the firmament, the greatness of Dhruva (Pole Star), the abodes of the leading Devas, the illumination of the three cities.
18. The greatness of leading Pitris, the description of Manvantaras, the creation of the set of four Yugas and the review of Yugadharma (the characteristics peculiar to the different Yugas).
19. The birth of Vajranga and the nativity of Taraka, the greatness of the demon Tåraka, the glorification of God Brahmå.
20. The nativity of Parvati, the penance-grove of Shiva, the burning of the body of Ananga (Cupid) and the grief of Rati.
21. The penance-grove of Gauri, soothing by Shiva, the conversation between Pārvati and the sages, the auspicious celebration of Shiva’s marriage.
22. The birth of Kumāra and the victory of Kumāra, the terrible killing of Taraka, the description of Narasimha.
23. The creation of the lotus-born deity; the killing of Andhaka, the greatness of Vårānasi as well as that of Narmada.
24. The description of Pitris according to the Gotras and Pravaras, the glorification of the Pitrigåthā (song of Pitris) Ubhayamukhidānam (gift of a cow while giving birth to a calf and hence two-faced) and the gift of Krişhņājina (deerskin of a black antelope).
25. Then the story of Savitrī, the duties of a king, the narration of different kinds of evil portents ending with eclipses.
26. The narration of omens at the time of journey, the glorification of auspicious signs in dreams, the greatness of Vamana and that of Varaha (Boar) thereafter.
27. The churning of the ocean, the suppression (nullification) of the poison Kalakūta, the clash between the Devas and the Demons; then the science of Engineering (planning the foundation and construction of a house).
28. The characteristic features of an image (idol); then (the construction) of the temple, the characteristic features of a mansion, the characteristics of a pavilion.
29. The indication of future kings, the glorification of great gifts, the narration of Kalpas-All these are narrated in this Puråņa.
30. This Purāņa is pure and conducive to welfare; it causes increase in longevity and fame. He who reads this or listens to it, goes to Hari’s abode.
31. He who writes this and gifts it over to a Brāhmaṇa after worshipping him on the equinoctial transit, along with a gold fish and a cow attains the greatest region.
Summary of chapter 107 of the Nārada Mahā Purana is as follows:
Sanatkumāra described the holy city of Avanti, also known as Ujjayinī, home to the sacred Mahākāla Liṅga and the Shiprā river, as well as Ayodhyā, the divine birth city of Bhagavān Śrī Rāma on the banks of the Sarayū. The narrative details how bathing in the Shiprā during Kumbha and visiting Ayodhyā destroys all deep-seated sins. Sanatkumāra affirmed that residing in Ayodhyā and contemplating the ideal righteous reign of Śrī Rāma grants unshakeable peace and elevation to Sāketa-dhāma.